Straight from the heart . . .

One of the things that has really helped me with my recovery has been the opportunities to share my story with people, especially other women. I've had a "Joan of Arc" complex since childhood and this has become my new crusade ... to help women prevent this from happening to them and to teach their children how to live heart healthy for life!

Recently, I was interviewed by Tracey Roman and Emily Wyatt at Fort Mill Magazine about my heart attack and ongoing recovery. Please listen and share this with your friends, family and co-workers. Remember, 80% of heart disease can be prevented and yet one in three women will die from it this year. We need to be better informed, better educated and better equipped to change those morbidity odds!

As I listened to the interview, I thought about my first day of cardiac rehab. Honestly, I wondered if I could get through 36 of these sessions. I wondered if, during the sessions, I would have another heart attack.

What got me through 12 weeks of cardiac rehab?

In addition to my absolute determination to be around for a
very
long time, I can say that participating in cardiac rehab in a hospital and knowing a professional staff was constantly monitoring my vitals made all of the difference in the world for me. I don't believe that I would have had nearly the success on my own as I did by being a part of this program. In fact, I'm sure of it.

There were days I didn't want to get out of bed and I certainly didn't want to exercise. When one of the cardiac rehab nurses told me that about a third of patients who start cardiac rehab don't finish it, I dug in my heels and became very committed to not only finishing the program but continuing the momentum on my own. The cardiac rehab staff's encouragement was invaluable.

So, when I recently learned that PMC's cardiac rehab received national accredidation through the American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation, I wasn't surprised at all. This is the only national certification of its kind and speaks volumes of the program. From my experience, I would say what makes this program so successful is the compassion and commitment of the nurses who help patients transform fear of failure into hope of accomplishment.

Another wonderful thing is becoming a reality as a result of the interview and the experience with cardiac rehab. The details are still being worked out, but my desire to get this message out to women is taking shape and I am looking forward to a new opportunity to help make a difference in someone's life! Talking is one of the things I do best and serving my community is one of my sincere passions. If you have a group that you would like to schedule a presentation, please send me an email or give call me at 803-524-5671!